HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-28 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES APRIL 28, 1997
CALL TO ORDER: Kevin Foley, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Kevin Foley, Chairman;William B. Duffy, Jr.;
John Leeman; Donald Stewart; David Torrisi; and Robert J. Halpin, Town Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 16, 1997 -David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,
to accept the minutes as presented in the package; vote approved 5-0.
COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS, & PUBLIC COMMENT: The next Legislative
Business Caucus of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce will be held on Friday, May 2, 1997 at
the Red Tavern Restaurant in Methuen.
New England Telephone &Telegraph Company-Plan# 831 -To Place Approximately 56 Feet of
Underground Conduit at North Main Street-Dennis Matthews of Nynex presented this request to the
Board of Selectmen. John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve the New
England Telephone &Telegraph Company plan petition# 831 at North Main Street; vote approved 5-0.
Massachusetts Electric Company-Plan 453/399 -To Install Underground Cable in Conduit at North Main
Street-Kate Cobner of Massachusetts Electric Company presented this request to the Board of Selectmen.
John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to approve plan petition 453/399 at North Main
Street; vote approved 5-0.
PERSONNEL -Resignation of Division of Public Works Director George Perna-The Town Manager
announced that George Perna, resigned, as the Director of the Division of Public Works. Mr. Perna and
the town arrived at an agreement which provides for severance. Mr. Halpin stated that he respects and
appreciates Mr. Perna's decision and expressed best wishes to him and his family. Donald Stewart made a
motion, seconded by William Duffy,to accept Mr. Perna's resignation; vote approved 5-0.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OPTIONS: William Scott, Director, Division of
Community Services and Development, discussed with the Board of Selectmen the options for considering
the move of the Community Development Office. There are three sites under consideration one of which is
the Textile Museum property on Mass Ave which is also under consideration for combination with a Pre
School program. Mr. Scott presented the varying costs of each facility including the costs with the Pre
School at the Textile Museum and with out the Pre School. The concluding results of the analysis of the
Textile Museum is that the utility and constructions costs to develop the facility into office space will not
be as low as some of the other facilities. The move is expected to house the offices for at least three years
while the Public Safety Facility project moves forward as well as the Major Facilities Plan is presented.
The next step is for the Town to issue a Request for Proposals for the square footage costs
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES - Jetwood Street Improvements -
Dan Nicolosi, 16 Jetwood Street, discussed with the Board of Selectmen his article requesting the
appropriation of$ 10,000 to cover the costs of paving Jetwood Street(Jetwood Street is not an accepted
roadway of the town). Mr. Nicolosi's cost estimation is about$ 7,200 for the paving, however there is an
additional $ 2,800, as a buffer, if needed. Mr. Nicolosi discussed the history of the roadway construction
and the difficulties he has experienced in trying to have the road improved.
Board of Selectmen Minutes Page 2.
Donald Stewart made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to move favorable action at town meeting; vote
failed 2 - 3 (William Duffy, David Torrisi, and Kevin Foley opposed.)
Mr. Duffy stated that he would like to have the input of the Planning Board on this article. Mr. Foley
stated that he would prefer to move forward with working to have the roadway accepted. Mr. Halpin stated
that he will contact Town Counsel to obtain a recommendation as to moving forward to have the roadway
improved being that it is not an accepted road.
David Torrisi made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,that the Board of Selectmen will issue a
recommendation on this article at Town Meeting; vote approved 5-0.
Conservation Restriction Articles - Osgood Hill and the Town Farm-Albert Manzi, III, discussed with the
Board of Selectmen the articles he has presented requesting approval of a Conservation Restriction at
Osgood Hill and the Town Farm properties. Mr. Manzi expressed his concern that the vote of the town to
acquire Osgood Hill was in the spirit and intent to conserve the land and that if the town entertains the idea
of selling portions of the property the residents may not support the sale of the land. Mr. Halpin explained
that in order to provide funding for the improvements needed to the Estate,that the sale of parcels of land
would assist in the funding.
Mr. Manzi provided a copy of the Open Space Committee's mission statement and will provide a copy of
the committee members.
William Duffy made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to request the following departments comment
on these proposed articles: Conservation Commission, Osgood Hill Board of Trustees, Open Space
Committee, and the Planning Board(the Board of Trustees does not need to provide any comments
pertaining to the Town Farm article); vote approved 4-1, David Torrisi opposed.
DEP HOLT ROAD LANDFILL CLOSURE AND CAPPING PLANS: The DEP is moving forward
with the plans to close and cap the landfill on Holt Road. An RFP will soon be advertised in the Boston
Globe requesting bids for the transportation of fill to this facility in North Andover. The fill is expected to
be brought in from the Central Artery Project.
APPROVALS TO USE PUBLIC PROPERTIES: The Town Manager recommended that the Board of
Selectmen approve the following requests to use public properties.
• Memorial Day Parade and Services -Monday, May 26, 1997 at 9:30 AM
• 4th of July Celebration on the Old Center Common and closing of Massachusetts Avenue -July 3 and
July 4
• Merrimack Valley Striders Road Races and Fund Raising Walk-July 4 - Starting at the Old Center
Common using various roadways.
Donald Stewart made a motion, seconded by John Leeman,to approve these requests to use public
properties; vote approved 5-0.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: John Leeman made a motion, seconded by Donald Stewart,to move into
Executive Session for the purposes of discussing negotiation updates pertaining to the following:
Update regarding Group Health Insurance.
Board of Selectmen Minutes Page 3.
Update regarding negotiations with the North Andover Police Association.
The members of the Board were individually polled and voted unanimously to move into Executive Session;
vote approved 5-0.
Melissa A. Powers, Administrative Secretary David Torrisi, Clerk of the Board